Confectionery-coating machine



Aug. 10 1926.

A. L. BAUSMAN CONFECTIONERY COATING MACHINE il ne 23, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 3% W? M v ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 10 1926. 1,595,444

I A. L. BAUSMAN CONFECTIONERY COATING MACHINE Filed June 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

2 INfiVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 10, I926.

UNITED STATES ALONZO LINTON BAUSMAN, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NA- TIONAL EQUIPMENT 'IION or MA's'sAcHusn'r'rs.

comrm, or srmnermnn,

MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- QONFECTIONERY-COATING KACHINE.

Application filed June 28, 1925. Serial No. 39,140.

This invention relates to improvements in confectionery coating machines and partic ularly to machines wherein'the chocolate, or other coating, is applied in a liquid 'state to the goods and the latter are then passed from one conveying means to another while the coatings are still soft.

In machines of this type, there is a tendency for the plastic coatings to be drawn out or pulled away from the bases of the confections as they pass from one conveying means to another. This results in the formation of tails, so called, which, it is desired to eliminate. One way of eliminating these tails is by the use of a roll of small diameter which rotates in the space between the two conveying means and wipes off the trailing tails shortly after they are formed. Examples of machines having provisions for removing tails in this manner will be found in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,302,205 granted April 29,, 1919, on an invention of Antonio Pagliuca and No. 1,341,253, granted" May 25, 1920 on an invention of Alonzo Linton Bausman.

The present invention is .an improvement in tail removing devices of the class set forth and consists in rotating the tail removing roll in a reverse direction to that shown in the abovev identified patents. The upper peripheral portion of the roll, which portion functions to remove the tails, is thereby made to move in a direction opposite to that of the two conveying means between which it is located.

The result is that the tails, removed by the roll, are carried away from the plaque carrying delivery belt and toward the wire belt and are returned into-the warm casing of the confection coating machine in a different manner than, but for the same general purose as is setforth in the above mentioned ausman patent.

Another and even more important, result is that the described arrangement insures that the confection carrying surface of the delivery conveyer is kept clean, at least to the extent that any tails, which may be thrown outwardly from the tail removing roll due to centrifugal force, cannot lodge on the smooth confection, carrying surface of the delivery conveyer.

Other features and advantages will appear in the following descripton and will e pointed outin the appended claims.

- The invention will be disclosed with reference to. the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view showing the delivery portion of a well known type of confection coating machine and the adjacent and receiving end of the delivery conveyer; I

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the parts shown in Fig. '1;

Fi 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;. and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional .elevational view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

7 Referring to these drawings: A represents the two laterally spaced, upstanding side frames of the outwardly extending delivery end of a confection coating machine, such as that conventionally shown in the above mentioned Bausman patent. The confection coating machine may, of course, be of any suitable type and a full disclosure of one suitable Patent 0. 735,890, granted August 11, 1903, on an invention of E. P. F. Magniez. The lower edges of the frames A are connectedby a pair of spaced plates 6, the upper one of which is the equivalent of a drip pan to receive the chocolate dripping from the confection conveyer and return it into the main casin (not shown); The space between these p ates forms a heatin jacket. Mounted in the usual way for travel tween frames A and above the uppermost late 6 is the usual confection conveyer 7 w ich in its upper horizontal stretch of travel carries the freshly coated confections c and which is of wire mesh, or other suitable rvious construction to allow the choco ate dripping from the confections to pass therethrough and fall u n the drip pan. ThQ'COMZBCl con ections, carried by the wire belt conveyer'7, are transferred when they reach the end of the upper stretch of travel of the wire belt, to a second or delivery conv'eyer 8, the confection carryin stretch of which is likewise horizontal and in the same or substantially the same plane as the corresponding stretch of wire belt 7. The receiving end of conveyor 8 is arranged as closely as feasible to the delivery gyp'e will be found in U. S. Letters end of wire belt 7 and the confections, while their coatings are still soft and plastic, automatically pass from one conveying means to the other in the usual manner,no special transferring means being required because the length of the gap between the two conveying means isso short with respect to the length of the bases of the confections c, as shown i'n -Fig. 4. The conveye'r 8 is provided with a smooth, impervious confection carrying surface 8', usually of waxed paper or the like, but instead of the single endless plaque formed by the part 8, a series of plaques may be used in the usual known manner and as shown for example, in U. S. Letters Patent No. 927,928, granted July 13, 1909, on an invention of AlonzoLinton Bausman;

The conveyors 7 and 8' may be driven in the usual, or any suitablemanner. For example, these conveyers may be driven as shown in the above mentioned Pagliuca patent. In the'drawings, a part of the usual gear train in the driving mechanism for wire belt 7 is shown at 9. -A shaft 10, mounted in and extending between the side frames A, is driven at one end by train 9 and at its other end is connected by a chain 11 and suitable sprockets to. drive the very small end roll 12 about which the wire belt turns in passing from its upper, confectioncarrying stretch to its return stretch. The drivln rollfor wire belt 7 is indicated at 13 an is driven in-the usual manner (not shown) by connections with shaft 10. The conveyors 7 and 8, in their upper and confection-carrying stretches, travel in the same direction as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4.

The tail removin roll is shown at 15 and it is located in t e gap between the adjacent ends of conveyors 7 and 8 and is d ssed closel adjacent each. The relative ocation an proportions. of the arts, usually used, is shown full me n 1g. 4, al-

though of course, the size and spacing of the parts may be varied within considerable limits without departingPfrom the teaching:

of the above mentioned agliuca patent.

is desired, for obvious reasons, to make the roll 15 as small in diameter as possible. As shown, the roll is smaller in diameter than the very small end roll 12, and, although smaller than shown in the illustrative disclosure of said Pagliuca patent, is approximately the same as is used in the practical and commercial embodiment of the Pagliuca invention. The roll 15, like that of the Pa liuca patent, is preferably 7 located slig tly below the plane of the confection carrying surfaces 0 the conveyers 7 and 8. However, there are means, in common use on confection coating machines, whereby the delivery conveyer can be raised or lowered to ad ust its confection carrying surin the other side frame face so as to lie above or below or truly tangent to the upper periphery of the roll and whereby the-proximity of the end of belt 8 to roll 15 can be varied to bring it closer to or further away from this roll.

Such adjusting means are shown in the drawings, particularly in Fig. 4. The conveyer 8 in its upper stretch travels over a table 16, secured to and extending between a pair of angle irons 17, and secured to each of the latter is a bracket 18 through which a screw 19 is threaded. The lower ends of the screws rest on brackets 6 formed one on each side of frame A. Accordingly, the plane of the table 16 and thus the confection carrying stretch of conveyer 8, can be raised or lowered with respect to peripheral portion of roll 15. The adjustment is usually such that said portion of the roll will run as closely as possible to the bases of the confections so as to remove the tails, such as 6, without in any way wiping off or marring the bottom coatings. At the forward end of table 16, and arranged one along each side edge thereof, areslides 20 each of which is connected to the table by bolts 21 riding in slots 22 in the slides, whereby movement of the slides longitudinally of the table can be effected. Adjusting screws 23, one for each slide, are mounted in posts 24., secured to table 16, and these screws are arranged to bear on the upturned ends of the slides for moving them, when bolts 21 are loosened. The'slides carry a cross bar 25, fixed at its ends thereto, and this cross bar is rounded along one edge to guide belt 8 as it turns from its lower stretch of travel into its confection stretch of travel. By movin slides 20, the proximity of belt 8 to rol 15 can be adjusted, as desired.

The adjustment of the level of the upper stretch of conveyer 7 with respect to the upper peripheral portion of roll 15 is, in this instance, effected by raising or lowering the roll itself. The roll 15 has hearings in a series of circular plugs 26,27, 28 and 29. The plugs 26 and 27ers mounted one in each 0 a pair of spaced arms 30,'being held thereto by keys 31 and 32, respectively. A pulley 33, suitably fixed between the arms 30, which are connected together above the pulley by; an integral bridge 34. The plug 27 also extends mto one end of a bushing 35 and in the other end of the latter the plug 28 is mounted, both plugs being connected by the described key 32 to turn with the bushing. The bushing 35 is mounted in one side frame A so that it can be turned therein. The plugs 27 and 28 serve as bearings for the end roll 12 of the wire belt,this roll passing centrally through the plugs, while roll 15 is located eccentrically thereof. Similarly mounted A is a bushing 36 the upper to roll 15, lies ing only for which is similar to bushing 35, except that it extends beyond both sides thereof. The plu 29 issimilarly fixed in'one end of this n ing and at the other end thereof is another plug 37 which functions as a bearthe roll 12. The roll 15, being eccentricall mounted relatively to the bushings 35 and 36, it follows that by turning the latter the roll can be raised or lowered without, changing the level of roll .12, or of the belt 7 ,which is en orted thereon.

The inner ends of the bus mgs and 36 each receive the hub of an arm 38, which is radially split to receive a cross bar 39. The latter spans the space between the two arms 38 and bears against roll 12 to stiffen the same and also scrape chocolate therefrom.

The ends of this bar 39, which are received in the split by bolts 38' This arm,

arms 38, may be clamped thereto which act to draw the split portions of the arms together and also to bind the hubs of the arms on bushings 35 and 36. When bolts .38 are tightened, the cross bar 39 and arms 38 tie the bushings 35 and 36 together and the arms '38, or the bar 39, or the bridge piece 34 of arms 30, may be used as a means for simultaneously turning the .bushings 35 and 36 to effect the raising or lowering of roll 15. "ment, once made, is

Ordinarily this adjustnot disturbed. Accordingly, the bushings 35 and 36 are made to fit tightlv enough in side frames A so that they readily remain intheir adjusted positions but, if necessary or desired, set screws may be applied in frames A, as indicated 1n Fig. 2 at 40, to hold the bushings against turning therein.

The roll 15 is driven by a belt 41 which connects the pulley 33 to a relatively large pulley 42. In front of the pulley isa pinion 43 and both arefixed to a common bushing 44 which is .rotatably mounted on a stud 45. The latter is fixed in one end of an arm 46. near its other end, is mounted to turn on a shouldered down partvof the hub of a bracket 48 in which is fixed a stud 47. The bracket 48 is suitabl secured, as indicated, to oneside frame This bracket is provided with an outwardly projecting lug 49 which underlies the last named end be ,turned to bear a screw 51 which extends through a slot 52 in the arm and is threaded into the adjacent side frame A, whereby the arm 46may be clamped against said side frame. The stud 47 underlies shaft 10 and carries a pinion 53 which is driven b the gear train 9 in the same direction as s aft 10. The pinion 53 is fixed to a bushing '54 which is rotatable on. stud 47 and fixed to this bushin is a large gear-'55. The latter meshes wi pinion 43 1 portin of. arm 46 and receives a screw 50 which can but. drives the latter and the pulleys 42 and 33 in a direction 0 posite to that of shaft 10 and opposite to t c. direction of travel of conveyers 7 and 8.

The drivingmechanism deshribed is so designed as to very greatly increase the speed "of roll 15 over the speed of theconveyers 7 and 8. As shown, the number of. revolutions of roll 15 is over fifty times as great as that of roll 10, which is one of the suprolls for conveyer 7 and is designed to trael at substantially the same surface speed. as conveyer 7. The surface speed of roll 15 is approximately seven times as great asthat of conveyer 7. In practice the roll 15 travels at about 1000 revolutions per minute and it will therefore be appreciated that any particles of chocolate, which are engaged thereby, are almost immediately thrown outwardly by the action of centrifugal force. With the arrangement, whereby the roll 15 moves in the opposite direction than heretofore, these particles 116 thrown toward the wire belt in its nonconfection conveying stretch of travel between rolls 12 and 13, and are carried back into a warm portion of the machine, whereby the removed tails cannot pile up and clog. No scraperis necessary to clean roll 15, as will be appreciated. The tails removed by roll 15 are thus thrown in such a direction that they cannot readily.

lodge on the confection carrying surface 8' of the delivery conveyer.

While the size and speed of roll 15 are variable within widellimits and the tail removing operation is essentially the same as that of the Pagliuca patent irrespective of the size and speed of the roll, the direction of rotation of the roll is a difference of an other character; It has been found that, the tail removing operation can be accomplished satisfactorily b wipling them away from the confections rat er t an toward and .in under them and, as a consequence,the-roll,- rotating in a reverse direction, performs the same work but has the distinct advaiitagethat the tails removed are thrown into the heated casing and not against the delivery conveyer. This means a saving in the cleaning of the paper surface of the delive conveyer for the. letter must be kept clean or satisfactory results.

The invention has been disclosed herein for illustrative purposes but the scope of the invention is defined by the ap endedclaims rather than by tion. What I claim is:

the foregoing escripcarrying conveyer of a coating-machine and a do lvery conveyer located forwardly there of for the transfer .of confections from-theformer to the latter while the coatings on the confections are still soft, of a roll located 1..The combination with the confection 1 in the space between the adjacent ends of no said conveyors and movable at high (I to wipe off the tails of thecoated confections formed in leaving the first named conveyer, and means for driving said roll in such direction that any coating removed thereby and thrown therefrom by centrifugal force will be thrown against the first named rather than the last named conveyer.

2. The combination with the confection carrying conveyer of a coating machine and the supporting roll at the delivery end of its confection carrying stretch, of a roll mounted closely adjacent thereto and in araHel relation therewith for wiping off t e tails formed on the confections off of said stretch of the conveyer, a support ing frame on each side of-said conve er,- a member turnably mounted in each me; and bearings provided in each of said members to rotatably receive both of said rolls, 20

the bearings for said end roll being concentric with the axis about which said members turn and the bearings for said wiping roll being located eccentrically thereto.

In testimony whereof I signature.

/ ALONZO LINTON BAUSMAN.

as the same pass 15 have afiix'ed my 35 

